Local artist faces long recovery after Orlando bicycle-Jeep crash

A Winter Park musician and artisan faces months of recovery after her bicycle collided with a Jeep in Orlando, causing severe facial injuries.

Karyna Santana Maldonado, 34, had been scheduled to undergo surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center Tuesday and will require extensive reconstruction, said Jaime Margary, her friend of 20 years.

"It was a very, very serious accident," Margary said. "She's lucky to be alive."

Santana was on the way home from work about 5 p.m. Sunday when a Jeep westbound on Par Street turned left onto Fairway Lane, a block east of Edgewater Drive, a police report shows. Santana, eastbound in the bicycle lane and traveling at about 10 mph, slammed into the passenger side of the Jeep.

A witness told investigators the dark-green bicycle hit the door frame of the Jeep, which was going about 30 mph. Santana's face bore the brunt of the impact. She also broke her wrist, Margary said.

"It's going to be a long path to recovery, but a straight path to recovery," he said.

The Jeep driver, Matthew J. Johnson, 27, of Orlando told investigators he didn't realize he had hit someone until he heard his passenger-side window break and saw Santana on the ground. He told officers he didn't see the bicycle because the setting sun was in his eyes, according to the report.

Police ticketed Johnson on a charge of failing to use due care to avoid colliding with the bicyclist.

Friends are planning a fundraiser for Santana, a musician, songwriter and artist, at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park, where she has hosted open-microphone nights. Her mother arrived Monday from Puerto Rico.

Santana formerly sang and played the guitar under the name Emma X. Recently, she has been making cloth wallets with vibrant patterns and designing her own fabric.